156K chickens added to list of birds being euthanized

North American viruses have typically posed less of a threat to humans than viruses from the Asian Avian H5N1 lineage, said Carol Cardona, an avian flu expert at the University of Minnesota. The results were confirmed January 15 by USDA. The turkey flocks have been confirmed as low pathogenic avian influenza, with additional testing ongoing for the ninth flock. The original location was identified as having High Pathogenic Avian Flu, while all other 9 locations have been identified as having Low Pathogenic Avian Flu. Only partial sequences have been obtained and the full sequence of the virus necessary for a better understanding of its origin will be obtained sometime this week. This outbreak could delay the reopening of some export markets to USA poultry products.

Olson says Iowa poultry producers are conducting “trace backs” to determine if their operations have had any connection with the flocks in IN that have been hit by bird flu.

Arend said the outbreak “is not a public health threat, but it is a very real challenge for the poultry industry as a whole”.

“We’re trying to minimize any further growth of this, because there’s so many producers in that area and it’s a big, big industry for our state”, said Sen. Indiana’s state veterinarian has also created a precautionary “surveillance zone” that extends another six miles beyond the control area and officials are testing farms and backyard flocks, too. Indiana wildlife experts said that southern migration happened later than normal this year because of the mild weather, but it’s unclear “how much of a factor that has been in this”, according to Indiana Board of Animal Health spokeswoman Denise Derrer. National, state and local officials are continuing work on containment and depopulation for the avian flu outbreak that was discovered late last week at 10 farms near the rural IN community. Depopulation prevents the spread of the disease.

The state also required the owners of small flocks to register their birds with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to help contain an outbreak and make notification easier.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the detection of a new strain of avian influenza H7N8 at the farm on Friday, and South Korea has halted imports of US poultry and poultry meat just two months after shipments were resumed. As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F kills bacteria and viruses, including HPAI.

“But even if that’s the case, new regulations require that a poultry house must set idle for four months if a flock there is euthanized”, Fruechte said. In September, APHIS published a HPAI Preparedness and Response Plan that captures the results of this planning effort, organizing information on preparatory activities, policy decisions and updated strategy documents.

Authorities say that the turkeys in IN were infected after a “less dangerous” form of the flu mutated, according to Medical Daily.